Fifty-four nursing students completed the intense studies of the Victoria College Vocational Nursing Program to graduate on December 19 at the Leo J. Welder Center. Three of the new nurses, Cayla Green, Dakota Ratjen and Emily Jones hail from Yorktown.
The graduation was followed by a special Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) pinning ceremony. Symbolizing the hard work and dedication of nursing students toward their studies and clinical experience, the pinning ceremony is a unique and meaningful event for the nursing community.
Understanding the demands of the program, the graduates recognize the sacrifices they made as well as the rewards, particularly the potential for personal and professional growth. The rigorous coursework included studies in anatomy and physiology, microbiology, nutrition, and specializations in neonatal, pediatric, and surgical care.
Green is a young woman with a 2-yearold daughter and a fiancé. She took a year off from work to focus on her studies, with support from her fiancé, Cy Strieber, and her family.
“I wasn’t working this year (2024) just because I was going to school Monday through Friday. Then, the weekends were my studying time,” she said.
In her final semester, Green took an intensive 14-hour course load to complete the program on time. The typical course load ranges from 8 to 10 hours. While she studied, her fiancé took their daughter to feed the cows, and they worked on flashcard questions together.
“My fiancé was a big part in why I was able to finish, I couldn't have done it without his support,” Green explained.
Although having a young daughter, she found pediatric studies surprisingly the hardest.
“It was like learning about all the different heart conditions that a child can have and all the symptoms and diseases. Even when they're in the womb, different things can go wrong,” she reflected.
She highlighted the importance of prenatal care. “You won't believe how many people come into the hospital and they don't have any prenatal care. And then their baby comes out with something wrong or some defect,” she said.
Calya particularly enjoyed her clinical classes, which provided hands-on experiences in healthcare settings.
“I liked going to clinicals and being able to actually care for real live people. We did all kinds of rotations in ER, C sections and vaginal births (in obstet-rics), hospice, and day surgery,” she enthused.
Her instructors were instrumental in helping her grasp difficult concepts, and she appreciated working in study groups with her classmates.
“I felt like we all worked together to reach the same goal,” she said, reflecting on the amount of work and dedication involved.
She expressed some regret about missing family events and time with her daughter during her studies.
“I needed to study. I needed to pass my tests. There are a lot of things that I felt like I missed. Thankful that I finished strong!” she said.
Looking ahead, Green plans to pursue a Registered Nurse (RN) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and hopes to open an assisted living home in the future. By the way, Green and Cy Strieber got married on November 16th and are currently enjoying their honeymoon. She is now Cayla Strieiber. Upon returning, the first item on her agenda is to “look for a job.”
